The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-17
CHAPTER XVII.

| comfort you.
CHAPTER XVII
Ali that morning the gale continued
fresh and the sea dangerous. We
found that the ship was regularly max
ing nine or ten inches of water ar
hour; and after the funeral we turned
to and pumped her out again.
But this heavy work, coupled with
our extreme anxiety and the perils anC
labor we had gone through was begin.
ming to tell heavily upon us. The stew.
ard showed signs of what strength he
had coming to an end, and Cornish S
face had worn and wasted look, as OF
man who has tasted long. The boat,
| swain supported this fatigue best, and
| always went cheerfully TO work, and
had encouraging words for us all. AS
for me, what | suffered most was.
| strange to say, the eternal rolling OF
the ship. At times it completely nau-
seated me. Also it gave me a racking
headache, and occasionally the motion
so bewildered me that | was obliged to
sit down and hold my head in MY
hands until the dizziness had passed.
At 4 quarter past eleven l had just
gone into the cuddy, after having had
an hours spell at the pumps with the
bOatswain and the steward, when /
heard COrnish's voice shouting down
the companion: "A sail! sail.'
But a minute before hsd felt so ut
terly Frustrated that | should not have
believed myself capable of taking half
a dozen steps without a long rest be-
tween each. Yet those magical words
sent me rushing up the companion
ladder with as much speed and energy
as | should have been capable of after
Il long nights refreshing slumber.
The moment Cornish saw me he
pointed to the horizon on the weather
beam and clearly beheld the sails of
4 vessel. Both the boatswain and the
steward had come running aft when
they heard Cornish's exclamation.
got the telescope and pointed it At the
vessel and found she was heading di-
rectly for us. l grasped Cornish by
the hand and shook it heartily. and
then holding the telescope to my eye,
exclaimed:
''She's big ship, bosom. She's car
rying a gallant sail, and
there's a single reef in her foretop sail
She can't miss us, She $ coming right
at us, hand over fist, boysi Steward,
90 and tell Miss Robertson to come on
deck. Down with you, and Delay that
squalling! Do you think we're blind?"
The small ensign was still alive,
roaring away just rs we had hOisted
and left it; but in my excitement l
did not think the signal impOrtunatc
enough, though surely it was so; and
rushing to the flag-locker, | got out
the book of signals, and sung out to
the bOatswain to help me to bend on
the flags which threw out, and which
would represent that we were sinking.
We hauled the ensign down and run
up the string of flags, and glorious
they looked in our eyes, as they
out in semicircle. showing
their brilliant colors against the clear
blue sky.
Miss Robertson came on deck with
out any covering on her head, and the
wind blew her hair away from its
faStenings and floated it out like
cloud of gold. She held onto the rail
and stared at the coming ship with
wild eyes and frowning forehead.
The boatswain contemplated the an
preaching ship with an unmoved
Powerfully rs the sight
Of the ship had affected the others he
showed no excitement or feeling what
ever. | had infinite confidence in this
mans judgment and bravery and his
weighed upon me like
heavy preSentiment. and the cheering
words | was about to address TO Miss
died away upon my lips.
| knew that the sea was then too
high to permit sending n boat for us,
but expected the ship would lie by
until the sea moderated which would
be by night or the next morn
ing at the latest.
The ship must have been about sew
enteen miles distant when first sighted /
but she came toward us rapidly before |
the stiff breeze. When about two
miles away she hoiSted Russian colors. |
was bitterly disappointed when saw |
the flag. / had hoped most earnestly |
10 see English colorS Our chances of |
rescue by an English or American ship |
we're fifty to one as against our
chances with foreigner.
Hes goin' to round tor exclaimed |
The boatswain, who watched the move
nents of the ship with an unconcern
absolutely phenomenal to me even to
recall now. when l consider that the
ives of US all might have depended
upon the strangers actions.
She went gracefully swooping and
smashing along the water. and saw
he hands upon the deck aft standing
oy at the main-brace to back the Yards |
Bosom" l cried, ''she means to
leave to-she won't leave us"
He made no answer, but continued
her with an immovable face.
She passed under our stern not more
han a quarter of mile distant, per-
laps not so far. There was a crowd
If nprS0nS npar fha Uhaal Sopna lob ]